It’s that time of year again! The kids all want something different, your husband can’t decide which brand of tools he wants, your boss has a million stationery sets, and your mother in law just moved to Bermuda (hey..we can all hope, right?). With everyone going this way and that, who has time (or for that matter patience) to get so many gifts? Make it simple this year and get a gift card!
Yet with the plethora of available providers, which ones are suitable for whom? Well, that all depends. Listed below are two major gift card providers (Simon and Visa) that offer variable options. I did some investigative research to see which one would suit the typical consumer…and here’s what I’ve found.
Simon Gift Cards
Pros: The great thing about Simon Gift cards (Simon is a retailer that typically owns the shopping malls in metropolitan areas) is that they come in a variety of colors and patterns. Everything, from the pink ribbon for breast cancer to dancing Santas are available as designs for your gift cards. Simon gift cards are available everywhere Visa is accepted and there are no fees to purchase one.
Cons: Unless you live in the middle of no-where (and I’m sorry if you do), going to the mall this time of year is hectic in itself. You have to purchase a Simon gift card “in store” (usually, this means at the customer service stand inside the mall). Even though it says that Simon gift cards are accepted everywhere, the fact that there is no name on the gift card (just a series of tracking numbers) makes it harder to purchase goods from other retailers (I was met with puzzled expressions everywhere I went!). After a period of time (ranging from mall to mall), the gift cards depreciate in value.
Recommendation: For the teens or college kids who live at the mall, the Simon gift card is for them. As long as they utilize it quickly, the quirky designs are worth the wait.
Visa Gift Cards
Pros: It looks like the real thing! Your name is placed on the card along with a unique series of numbers. These cards are reloadable (you can do it on-line, over the phone or from a service provider). The Visa gift card is also accepted everywhere Visa is accepted (I used this one at the gas station, the grocery store, and even to pay my cell phone bill, with no problem!). You can also purchase this card on-line, over the phone, or from a provider (like your bank for instance). The card never depreciates in value, and unlike the Simon gift card, you can use this one overseas (wherever Visa is accepted).
Cons: The $5.95 fee may eat into a $10.00 gift card, but if you can tolerate it, it’s worth the fee. There were no really cool and funky designs like the Simon Gift card, but they did offer some very nice complimentary envelopes to put them into!
Recommendation: For adults and co-workers who will use it for more practical purposes, the Visa gift card adds a little more prestige for your buck.
So whatever your preference, consider a gift card this year…and save your headaches for grandpappy’s “famous” eggnog!
